The Ninth Hour

Then, Trisagion through Our Father…Kontakion of the forefeast, in Tone IV—

Reader: O come, let us worship… Thrice

Psalm 92

Now & ever…: Theotokion—

Glory…: troparion of the forefeast, in Tone IV—

Then these stichera—

The Lord is King, He is clothed with majesty; the Lord is clothed with strength and He hath girt Himself. For He established the world which shall not be shaken. Thy throne is prepared of old; Thou art from everlasting. The rivers have lifted up, O Lord, the rivers have lifted up their voices. The rivers will lift up their waves, at the voices of many waters. Wonderful are the surgings of the sea, wonderful on high is the Lord. Thy testimonies are made very sure. Holiness becometh Thy house, O Lord, unto length of days.

Then the canonarch, standing in the middle of the temple, chanteth aloud the whole of the following sticheron, in Tone V—

Psalm 113

Then the deacon intoneth the following, also aloud—

When Israel went out of Egypt, and the house of Jacob from among a barbarous people, Judæa became His sanctuary, Israel His dominion. The sea beheld and fled, Jordan turned back. The mountains skipped like rams, and the hills like lambs of flocks. What aileth thee, O sea, that thou fleddest? And thou Jordan, that thou didst turn back? Ye mountains, that ye skipped like rams, and ye hills like lambs of flocks? At the presence of the Lord the earth was shaken, at the presence of the God of Jacob, Who turneth the rock into pools of waters, and the precipice into fountains of waters. Not unto us, O Lord, not unto us, but unto Thy name give glory, for Thy mercy and Thy truth, Lest haply the heathen say: Where is their God? But our God is in heaven and on earth; all things soever He hath willed, He hath done. The idols of the nations are of silver and gold, the works of the hands of men. They have a mouth, but shall not speak; eyes have they, and shall not see. Ears have they, and shall not hear; noses have they, and shall not smell. Hands they have, and shall not feel; feet have they, and shall not walk; they shall make no sound in their throat. Let those that make them become like unto them, and all that put their trust in them. The house of Israel hath hoped in the Lord; their helper and defender is He. The house of Aaron hath hoped in the Lord; their helper and defender is He. Those who fear the Lord have hoped in the Lord; their helper and defender is He. The Lord being mindful of us, hath blessed us. He hath blessed the house of Israel, He hath blessed the house of Aaron. He hath blessed those who fear the Lord, the little with the great. The Lord grant you increase, to you and to your children. Ye are blessed of the Lord, Who made heaven and the earth. The heaven of heaven belongeth to the Lord, but the earth He gave unto the sons of men. Not the dead shall praise Thee, O Lord, nor any that go down to hades. But we the living will bless the Lord from henceforth and for evermore.

And both choirs together chant:

Psalm 85

Then both choirs together chant again the sticheron: Glory…, Now & ever…, in Tone V—

Bow down Thine ear, O Lord, and hearken unto me, for poor and needy am I. Preserve my soul, for I am holy; save Thy servant, O my God, that hopeth in Thee. Have mercy on me, O Lord, for unto Thee will I cry all the day long; make glad the soul of Thy servant, for unto Thee have I lifted up my soul. For Thou, O Lord, art good and gentle, and plenteous in mercy unto all those who call upon Thee. Give ear, O Lord, unto my prayer, and attend unto the voice of my supplication. In the day of mine affliction have I cried unto Thee, for Thou hast heard me. There is none like unto Thee among the gods, O Lord, nor are there any works like unto Thy works. All the nations whom Thou hast made shall come and shall worship before Thee, O Lord, and shall glorify Thy name. For Thou art great and workest wonders; Thou alone art God. Guide me, O Lord, in Thy way, and I will walk in Thy truth; let my heart rejoice that I may fear Thy name. I will confess Thee, O Lord my God, with all my heart, and I will glorify Thy name forever. For great is Thy mercy upon me, and Thou hast delivered my soul from the nethermost hades. O God, transgressors have risen up against me, and the assembly of the mighty hath sought after my soul, and they have not set Thee before them. But Thou, O Lord my God, art compassionate and merciful, long-suffering and plenteous in mercy, and true. Look upon me and have mercy upon me; give Thy strength unto Thy servant, and save the son of Thy handmaiden. Work in me a sign unto good, and let those who hate me behold and be put to shame; for Thou, O Lord, hast holpen me and comforted me.

A Reading from the Prophecy of Isaiah

Glory…, Now & ever…

Deacon: Wisdom, stand aright! Let us listen to the Holy Gospel.

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia! Glory to Thee, O God! Thrice

Priest: Peace be unto all.

Lord, have mercy! Thrice

Priest: A reading from the Holy Gospel according to Matthew [§6]

Once, the River Jordan was turned back by the mantle of Elisha when Elijah was borne aloft, and the waters were parted on either side, and the path which before was wet became dry for him, as a true image of baptism, whereby we pass through the flow of life. Christ hath appeared in the Jordan to sanctify the waters.

Priest: O God, have pity on us and bless us; cause Thy face to shine upon us, and have mercy on us.

O Good One, Who for our sake wast born of the Virgin and endured crucifixion, Who hast overthrown death by death and revealed resurrection: in that Thou art God, disdain not those whom Thou didst fashion with Thine own hand. Show forth Thy love for mankind, O Merciful One. Accept the Theotokos who gave Thee birth, and who prayeth for us. And save Thy despairing people, O our Savior!

Then, the reader readeth this prayer—

In Tone VII: An awesome thing was it to behold the Creator of heaven and earth naked in the river, receiving from His servant baptism as a servant for our salvation. The angelic choirs marvelled in fear and joy; and with them we worship Thee. Save us, O Lord! Twice

Stichos: Therefore will I remember Thee from the land of Jordan and Hermoniem.

In Tone II: When the Forerunner beheld the Lord of glory coming to him, he cried: “The Deliverer of the world hath arrived! He delivereth us from corruption and tribulation! He granteth remission of offenses, in that He is God on earth! In His mercy He hath come forth from the pure Virgin. He maketh children of God out of slaves, and instead of darkness bringeth illumination to mankind through the water of His divine baptism! Wherefore, come ye, that together we may glorify Him with the Father and the Holy Spirit!”

Stichos: The waters saw Thee, O God, the waters saw Thee and were afraid.

The foregoing is repeated.

When thy hand touched the all-pure head of the Master, with it and thy finger thou didst point Him out to us. Therewith do thou also point us out to Him, O Baptist, for thou hast great boldness and, in that thou art greater than all the prophets, thou art borne witness to by Him. Lift up to Him thine eyes, which beheld the most Holy Spirit descending in the form of a dove, O Baptist, and render Him merciful unto us; and come, stand with us, sealing our hymnody and helping us to celebrate His forefeast.

And we make three full prostrations.

To the Orthodox episcopate of the Church of Russia; our Most Reverend Metropolitan N., First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad; and our Right Reverend Archbishop [or Bishop] N.: Many years!

To this and subsequent petitions, both choirs respond in unison:

God grant them many years! Thrice

To the suffering Russian nation and its Orthodox people, both in the homeland and in the diaspora, in grievous circumstances: Many years!

To the civil authorities, and to all Orthodox Christians, grant, O Lord, peace and prosperity, an abundance of the fruits of the earth, and many years!

And where this service is celebrated in a monastery—

Save, O Christ God, our venerable father abbot [or archimandrite] N. and his brethren in Christ. Preserve this holy community in peace, and establish this holy temple unto the ages of ages. Amen.

Save them, O Christ God! Thrice

Be it known that this chanting of Many Years is performed in cathedrals, in the presence of bishops. In other places, where convenient, it is performed at Compline, after the dismissal of the holy Liturgy, or after Vespers, when Compline on the Eve of Theophany falleth on a Saturday or a Sunday. But for monastic communities all typicons prescribe that this rite be inserted at this point during the Royal Hours.

When thy hand touched the all-pure head of the Master, with it and thy finger thou didst point Him out to us. Therewith do thou also point us out to Him, O Baptist, for thou hast great boldness and, in that thou art greater than all the prophets, thou art borne witness to by Him. Lift up to Him thine eyes, which beheld the most Holy Spirit descending in the form of a dove, O baptist, and render Him merciful unto us; and come, stand with us, sealing our hymnody and helping us to celebrate His forefeast.

During the Ninth Hour, the deacon censeth the entire church.

Prokimenon, in Tone IV—

The Lord is my light and my Savior; whom then shall I fear?

Stichos: The Lord is the defender of my life; of whom then shall I be afraid?

Thus saith the Lord: “In an acceptable time have I heard thee, and in a day of salvation have I succored thee: and I have formed thee, and given thee for a covenant of the nations, to establish the earth, and to cause to inherit the desert heritages; saying to those who are in bonds: ‘Go forth!’, and bidding those who are in darkness to show themselves.” They shall be fed in all the ways, and in all the paths shall be their pasture. They shall not hunger, neither shall they thirst; neither shall the heat nor the sun smite them; but He Who hath mercy on them shall comfort them, and by fountains of waters shall He lead them. “And I will make every mountain a way, and every path a pasture to them.” Behold, these shall come from afar: and these from the north and the west, and others from the land of the Persians. Rejoice, ye heavens; and let the earth be glad: let the mountains break forth with joy; for the Lord hath had mercy on His people, and hath comforted the lowly ones of His people. But Sion said: “The Lord hath forsaken me, and, The Lord hath forgotten me.” Will a woman forget her child, so as not to have compassion upon the offspring of her womb? “But if a woman should even forget these, yet I will not forget thee,” saith the Lord.

Reading from the Epistle to Titus [§302]

Titus my child: The grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present age, looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior, Jesus Christ, Who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto Himself a people of His own, zealous of good works. But after the kindness and love of God, our Savior, toward man appeared, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Spirit, which He shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ, our Savior, that, being justified by His grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

People: And to thy spirit.

People: Glory to Thee, O God, glory to Thee!

At that time, Jesus came from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him. But John forbade Him, saying: “I have need to be baptized of Thee, and comest Thou to me?” And Jesus, answering, said unto him: “Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he suffered Him. And Jesus, when He was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo! the heavens were opened unto Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon Him: and, lo! a voice from heaven, saying: “This is My beloved Son, in Whom I am well pleased!”

People: Glory to Thee, O God, glory to Thee!

Then, the following—

Deliver us not up utterly, for Thy holy name’s sake, neither disannul Thou Thy covenant, and cause not Thy mercy to depart from us, for Abraham’s sake, Thy beloved, and for Isaac’s sake, Thy servant, and for Israel’s, Thy holy one.

In the streams of the Jordan the Lord crieth out to John today: Fear not to baptize Me, for I have come to save Adam the first-created!

Lord, have mercy! Forty times

O Christ God, Thou Long-suffering, greatly Merciful and exceedingly Compassionate One, Who at all times and at every hour, in heaven and on earth, art worshipped and glorified; Who lovest the righteous and hast mercy on the sinful; Who callest all to salvation in the promise of good things to come: do Thou Thyself, O Lord, accept also our prayers at this hour, and guide our life toward Thy commandments. Sanctify our souls, purify our bodies; set our minds aright; and cleanse our thoughts. And deliver us from every sorrow, evil and pain. Protect us by Thy holy angels, that, preserved and guided by their array, we may attain unto the unity of the Faith and to the understanding of Thine unapproachable glory: for blessed art Thou unto the ages of ages. Amen.

Lord, have mercy! Thrice

Glory…, Now & ever…

We magnify thee, the Theotokos, who art more honorable than the cherubim and beyond compare more glorious than the seraphim, and without corruption gavest birth to God the Word.

In the name of the Lord, father, bless!

O Master, Lord Jesus Christ our God, Who art long-suffering over our offenses and hast brought us even unto this present hour, whereon Thou didst hang upon the life-creating Tree, didst make a path of entry for the noble thief, and didst destroy death by death: Cleanse us sinners, Thine unworthy servants, for we have sinned and committed iniquities, and we are not worthy to lift up our eyes and gaze upon the heights of heaven, for we have forsaken the path of Thy righteousness and have walked after the desires of our own hearts. Yet we entreat Thy boundless goodness: Have pity on us, O Lord, according to the multitude of Thy mercy, and save us for Thy holy name’s sake, for our days have vanished in vanity. Wrest us from the hands of the adversary, grant us remission of our sins, and mortify our carnal-mindedness, that, putting off the old man, we may clothe ourselves in the new man, and may live for Thee, our Master and Benefactor, and thus following Thy precepts, we may attain unto everlasting rest, where is the habitation of all who rejoice. For Thou art truly the true gladness and joy of those who love Thee, O Christ our God, and to Thee do we send up glory, with Thine unoriginate Father, and Thine all-holy, good and life-creating Spirit, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.